MRSA detected in Pittsburgh area school

The Allegheny Valley School District advised parents in a letter Tuesday of an unidentified individual at Springdale High School who tested positive for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Image/NIAID

Superintendent of Schools, Patrick Graczyk noted Mrs. Conner, the school district nurse, has met with the high school administration to review all of the preventative measures taken at the Allegheny Valley School District to try to eliminate the spread of bacteria to provide a safe and healthy school environment for our students and staff.

He said was informed of the case and has met to review all of the preventative measures taken at the Allegheny Valley School District to try and eliminate the spread of the bacteria. “I want to assure you that we are doing all that we can to provide a safe and healthy school environment for our students and staff”, Graczyk wrote.

The following highlights some of the actions taken to date to include the school nurse continues to follow up with the individual involved who has tested positive, encouragement of good hygiene practices with the general student population and hand sanitizing dispensers are available in all district buildings; common areas such as the restrooms are disinfected daily.

The CDC says MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin.

MRSA in the community is widespread and therefore, anyone is at risk. Most people who get MRSA in the community get infections of the skin. Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene. People may be more at risk in locations where these factors are common, including: athletic facilities, dormitories, military barracks, correctional facilities, and daycare centers.